Selection: B-7

B-7

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1131 words

Author: J. Baldwin

Synopsis: This ancient myth tells about Arion, a man who sings more beautifully than anyone else. He runs into trouble on a boat, but he's rescued in a very surprising way.

Excerpt: In a city in ancient Greece, there once lived a man who made beautiful music. His name was Arion. No other person could play music or sing so sweetly. In just a moment, his music could wipe away sad or angry feelings. The songs he wrote were famous in many lands.

How was Arion saved after he jumped into the sea? Some people say he climbed on the back of a dolphin.

Other people say the dolphin that saved Arion was not a sea creature. It was a boat named the "Dolphin." These people say Arion, who was a very good swimmer, was able to swim in the sea until a passing boat saved him.

Question: The selection says Arion was good at doing two things. What are they?

1. making music and swimming
2. swimming and making friends
3. making music and hiding money
4. finding dolphins and finding money

Selection: B-30

B-30

Grade level: 2

Word count: 1093 words

Author: Adapted from a story by Michael H. Levitt.

Synopsis: The best leader isn't always the biggest or the strongest.

Excerpt: "So you think Dakota's mask is funny," said someone behind them. Everyone turned. It was Maka, the tall village chief.

"No, Maka," the kids said.

Maka added, "All kinds of animals come together. For this one night, they are all friends."

The kids were silent, listening to Maka. "Tonight is the night that animals will come together. We must be ready to help them pick their king. Our village will come together just as the animals do. We will all work and play together."

Question: Which two of the following statements about Maka are correct?

1. He was not happy when the other children made fun of Dakota.
2. He was a tall man who was the village chief.
3. He agreed that Dakota was too small to make a wolf mask.
4. He told Dakota to catch the wolf and bring it to the village.
5. He forced the wolf to become the leader of the animals.

Selection: B-51

B-51

Grade level: 2

Word count: 573 words

Author: R. Bender

Synopsis: There is an important lesson to be learned in a farmer's fields.

Excerpt: The third kind of plant was flax. The farmer's family did not eat it. So why did he plant it? Flax plants grew tall. In the fall, the farmer would cut them. Then the farmer would use dried flax to make nets.

Why did the farmer need nets? He used them to trap birds. During the winter, the farmer's family did not have much food. The farmer used nets to trap birds so his family could eat.

Question: Why did the farmer plant flax seeds?

1. So he would be able to feed his family in the winter.
2. So the birds would have plenty to eat.
3. Because his farm animals needed food to eat.
4. Because they grew faster than other kinds of seeds.

Selection: B-13

B-13

Grade level: 2

Word count: 966 words

Author: Josepha Sherman

Synopsis: When a man-eating ogre leaps from a lake, young Safar's life changes forever.

Excerpt: "I'm fishing for the bottom of the lake," he said to the ogre. "When I hook it, I'm going to lift up this lake and hang it from the moon."

The ogre tore the bush up by the roots. A frightened rabbit darted out and raced away. "Hey, Baby Brother!" yelled the ogre. "Wait for me!"

The ogre hit the tree so hard it split in two. An angry bear rushed out. He grabbed the ogre and squeezed and squeezed until the ogre's green eyes nearly popped.

Safar climbed onto the horse's back. He gave the horse two good kicks with his feet, and off they went, galloping all around the lake until they were back where they'd started.

Question: Put these events from the selection in the order in which they occurred, from first to last.

1. Safar said he would hang the lake from the moon.
2. The ogre scared a rabbit.
3. A bear squeezed the ogre.
4. Safar and a horse galloped around the lake.